Monday, May 31, 2010

Sujata Koirala rejects honour conferred on father, other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 June: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala also rejected the nation’s second highest honour posthumously conferred on her father Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday on republic day.Sujata said she wasn’t present at a cabinet meeting that approved a list of names to be included in a honour’s list prepared by a cabinet committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar.Four others also rejected hours conferred.Former Speaker Daman Dhungana, ‘civil society’ activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar, human rights activist Subod Pyakhurel and Dr Bharat Pradhan also rejected honours conferred by government instituted for the first time in four years.The foursome said government decision wasn’t transparent and people who committed excesses during Janaandolan II were awarded.Eight personalities first rejected the honour.The rejections have come as a serious embarrassment for the government.Martyrs and those injured during the movement also objected and asked government to reconsider its decision,Thirteen persons have to far rejected government honour instituted for the first time in four years copying a royal palace practice.nnnn

Kathmandu, 1 June: Chairman Subash Nemwang Monday directed government to issue a statement on at least nearly 19 Nepali-speaking people brutally killed in the northeastern state of Meghalaya dominated by Khasis. The ruling came after leaders of main political parties raised the issue in the legislature Monday.Foreign Ministry Spokesman Durga Prasad Bhattarai said this in a statement a letter has been forwarded to the federal Indian government asking for the protection of Nepali-speaking people.Youth Federation Nepal affiliated with ruling UML Monday drew the attention of the India government while submitting a memorandum to the Indian embassy.nnnn

CIAA asks govt. to be transparent

Kathmandu, 1 June: CIAA Monday directed the Office of the Prime Minister and the council of ministers to stop distributing government dole to sick thorough personal decisions of ministers.The anti-graft body asked government to be transparent in distribution of public money.Activists of ruling parties have been the main beneficiaries.Government paid millions of rupees for the treatment of Girija Prasad Koirala.Health Minister Uma Kanta Chaudhary has asked cabinet to release additional more money to spend under health aid heading even after distributing Rs 23.86 million.nnnn

Printing of MRPs delayed

Kathmandu, 1 June: The printing of machine readable passports will again be delayed, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Durga Prasad Bhattarai said Monday and won’t be immediately available.An international tender for printing MRPs will be opened only 1 July, he said. Amid protests, government had to cancel a cabinet decision to award an unilateral contract to an Indian government security press even as the foreign ministry called an international tender.Price quoted by India weren’t competitive as well. Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala took personal interest in giving the contract to India.nnnn

Maoist shot dead in Rupendhaehi

Kathmandu, 1 June: Maoist district leader Sapatu Yadav was shot dead in Rupendhaehi overnight.He was shot in the back by unknown people was he was driving back to his village in the district.nnnn